Lakers’ Bynum, Bryant have rough All-Star night

ORLANDO, Fla. – It was a tough night for the Lakers' All-Stars in the West's 152-149 victory at Amway Center.

Andrew Bynum's first All-Star Game was over long before the final buzzer as his problematic right knee cut short his evening after six minutes – as a precaution.

"It was planned this way," Bynum said. "I decided to play just a little bit to experience it."

Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant suffered a nasal fracture when he was hit in the nose midway through the third quarter.

Miami's Dwyane Wade was closely guarding Bryant and inadvertently delivered a hard blow to the Lakers guard's nose with 8:48 left in the third quarter, causing the Lakers guard to leave the game with a bloody nose. He received treatment before shooting free throws that gave the West a 14-point lead.

Bryant stopped the bleeding and continued to play. He finished with 27 points, eclipsing Michael Jordan as the all-time leading scorer in All-Star history with 271 points, and later had a CT scan that revealed the break.

“I knew he got hit in the nose and had a bloody nose,” said West coach Scott Brooks, “but other than that, I didn’t think it was bothering him. That’s the type of person he is. He’s not going to let anybody know that he was in pain or had any issues until after the game.

“The guy is as competitive as anybody I’ve been around. He was going to give everything and not let us know. But that’s what makes him the special player he is.”

Bynum had said Friday he was experiencing "a little pain" in the knee and had an injection Saturday to try and relieve the pain. Bynum, who failed to connect on three field-goal attempts, managed to pull down three rebounds and block a shot.

Bynum said he will rest his knee on Monday, a day off for the team, and be ready to play when the Lakers resume their schedule with a home game against Minnesota.

"If I waited to do it (rest) Monday, (the knee) would have been an issue," Bynum said.

The Clippers' Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, meanwhile, made the most of their All-Star experience, showing off their "Lob City" on one of the game's biggest stages.

"I wouldn't say show off, but we showed a little bit of our chemistry out there," said Griffin, who finished with 22 points, four of his baskets coming off passes from Paul.

"I'm definitely familiar playing with him. It's fun playing with a guard like that and I get to do it every day, which is nice."